Richard Greene was sworn in last week as the new Mission Director for Bangladesh for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah administered the oath.

In response to the unfolding drought in the Horn of Africa, the United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will contribute approximately 19,000 metric tons (MT) of food to assist Somalis in need. This food was already strategically prepositioned in regional warehouses to ensure rapid delivery and distribution to women and children in Somalia.

It took the human race until the year 1804 to reach a world population of 1 billion. A mere 207 years later, 7 billion people will inhabit the planet we call home. This year, World Population Day allows us to focus attention on the effects growing populations have on the environment, the availability of natural resources and perhaps most importantly, the health of women and children.

In the wake of the worst drought in the Horn of Africa since the 1950s, more than 10 million people—primarily in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia—are in need of emergency assistance. In response to this urgent need, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is standing up a Nairobi-based Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to help expedite additional U.S. Government humanitarian aid to the Horn.

As South Sudan prepares for independence on July 9, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) swore in Kevin Mullally as the first mission director to the new country. Stationed in Juba, South Sudan, Mullally will oversee a development program that will focus on developing the promising agriculture sector; delivering essential services including health and education to citizens; strengthening governance that is effective, inclusive, and accountable; and helping to prevent or mitigate conflict. USAID Counselor Hilda M. Arellano administered the oath of office at the swearing-in ceremony.

On July 7, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will launch the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) initiative. This international, interagency alliance will address challenges that affect both the United States and the developing world by reinforcing existing relationships and creating new connections.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development will be hosting a series of weekly seminars this summer at the National Press Club. The forums provide an opportunity to explore a range of development topics, innovative approaches, and diverse experiences among USAID and the development community.

A major citizen security conference organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and the Organization of American States (OAS) concluded that governments, citizens and businesses must work together to strengthen communities and combat crime in the Americas.

The second Annual Program Statement (APS) for USAID's Development Innovation Ventures program was released last week. This APS, which serves as a call for applications, reflects input from a wide range of stakeholders.

On June 24, the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) will convene a public meeting and host a ceremonial swearing-in for new Board members, including a new Board chair. The public BIFAD coincides with the 2011 World Food Prize Announcement and Feed the Future Research Forum, which were held earlier this week.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently hosted its fourth annual small business conference to provide small business leaders an opportunity to learn how they can participate in development assistance programs. USAID's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) coordinated the meeting around the theme, "USAID and Small Businesses: Moving Small Business Forward."

Today Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), delivered remarks at the 2011 World Food Prize Laureate Announcement Ceremony hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Department of State. The former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, and the former President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, were jointly selected to receive the 2011 World Food Prize for their independent, personal commitment and visionary leadership in creating and implementing policies targeting the alleviation of hunger and poverty in their countries.

Today more than 300 members from the global agriculture research community gathered today to discuss and refine the research strategy for the Obama Administration's Feed the Future Initiative. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah opened a three-day Feed the Future Research Forum.“Just as we are making concentrated investments in selected value chains and geographic regions, Feed the Future is also strategically focusing our research agenda to maximize impact,” Administrator Shah said, “The discussion and feedback from this three-day forum will help the United States further refine our research strategy on food security to deliver the most effect results.”

Almost one billion people—one sixth of the world's population— suffer from chronic hunger. Each year, more than 3.5 million children die from under nutrition. Hunger robs the poor of a healthy and productive life and stunts the mental and physical development of the next generation. Reducing chronic hunger is essential to the sustainable development of individuals, communities and nations.

On the 14 June, the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) met to discuss cooperation and collaboration on development assistance in the second US-EU High Level Consultative Group Meeting since the 2009 re-launch of the US-EU Development Dialogue. EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs and USAID Dr Rajiv Shah stated:

"Today, I congratulate the Government of South Africa, in partnership with South Africa's Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Health, on their decision to fund a confirmatory trial of 1% tenofovir gel. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is pleased to announce our intent to join in the funding of this important research. Given the success and landmark findings from the CAPRISA 004 trial, we believe this is an exciting partnership between our two governments and reflects the larger cooperation between the United States - through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and in accordance with President Obama's Global Health Initiative - and South Africa to address the AIDS epidemic.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Demi and Ashton Foundation (DNA) and NetHope Inc. announced the launch of the Stop Human Trafficking App Challenge, a contest to develop the most effective mobile technology application to combat trafficking in persons in Russia. Leveraging the culture of innovation thriving in Russia and broadly across the region, the contest aims to raise awareness of trafficking in Russia and help civil society organizations provide services to survivors.

Today, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Unilever-Lifebuoy announced a new partnership that leverages their collective resources to improve handwashing practices among birth attendants and family members as a key evidence-based strategy to reduce newborn infections. The partnership was developed in collaboration with USAID's flagship Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP).

The U.S. Agency for International Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the 13th annual International Food Aid & Development Conference will be held in Kansas City, Mo., June 27-29, 2011. The theme of this year's conference is “Food Aid: Results that Matter to Hungry People.”